ALL GOALIES ARE CONFIRMED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED AT THE TIME OF PRINT
There are only 4 matches tonight but each game will pit an established goalie against an upstart or a goalie that is gathering momentum and if they can keep that momentum going. First up we have Darcy Kuemper of the Minnesota Wild heading into Boston to take on Tuukka Rask (LIKELY) and the Bruins. The Bruins sit atop the Eastern Conference and are sporting one of the hottest lines in the NHL right now while Kuemper's Wild have been playing a stingy defense and are 6-1-3 in last ten games. Kuemper is 6-0-2 and is 12-4-4 overall and has been a godsend for the Wild this season as Harding & Backstrom have been lost to injuries. This is a true test but the B's have the home ice advantage and one of the top elite goaltenders in the NHL in Rask....Next up we have Eddie Lack who showed the Vancouver Canucks that he had what it takes when he served as a backup to Roberto Luongo. Well, we all know Luongo was dealt at the trade deadline, the starting job falling into lack's lap. Lack will have to prove to the Canuck faithful that he can carry the load. Lack will face Ben Bishop (LIKELY) and the Tampa Bay Lightning on back-to-back nights. Bishop has come into his own this year as he has 31 wins with a 2.10 GAA and a .929 SP. Bolts should have no problem with the road-weary Canucks....Al Montoya is a dependable backup goaltender but with Ondrej Pavelec sidelined for at least another game, the Winnipeg Jets playoff hopes are riding on Montoya's skates. He has a tough task ahead of him as he goes against Ryan Miller and the St. Louis Blues. The Blues are atop the Western Conference and Miller has given the team the consistent net minding that they were desperately lacking. Miller is 6-0-1 with tremendous metrics (1.70 GAA & .932 SP). The Jets are trying to keep their playoff hopes alive while the Blues try to pad their NHL point lead....Phoenix Coyote G Mike Smith (LIKELY) tonight will go for the ninth straight start against Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings. With Smith improving his game since the O-break and the Kings being the stingiest club in the NHL, a win by Smith would go a long way for the Coyotes making the playoffs this year but the Kings are 8-2-0 and peaking down the stretch.
FANTASY MUST STARTS:
Ryan Miller, St. Louis vs. Winnipeg
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles vs. Phoenix
Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay vs. Vancouver
SLEEPER:
None.
DAILY GOALIE PICKS:
Steve: (85-52) Ben Bishop
Ray: (78-59) Ryan Miller
Mike: (63-47) Ryan Miller
THE GOALIE EDGE: 3/17/2014 primepucks.comMon 3/17/14 2:12 PM